Rail and flange lubricator



Nv.5,11940. l. HETSCH- t 2220716 v *RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR l Filed Feb. 2s, 19:58 2 sheets-sheet 1 BY f ATTCRNEY Nov. 5, 1940. E l, HETSCH 2,220,716

RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ,piene RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR lEdmond Ivan Hetsch, ValleyStream, N 'A 1 Application February 23, 193s, seria; No. 191,931

, 10 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in automatically operative rail and flange lubricators adapted for applying lubricant to reduce the resistance and rail and wheel flange wear incident to the passage of railway rolling stock around curves in the track structure. An objectof'the -present improvements'is to provide a lubricator {adapted `for successfully lubricating with grease as the lubricant and to more fully meet the exacting requirements of track maintenance' and with greater eiiiciency of lubrication than has heretofore been accomplished.

` Important advantages vand features of my improved device comprise'an improvedv arrangement of supply tankv and grease pump designed f or positioning lbeneaththe rail for actuating the pump responsive to 'wave movement of the rail and wherein the pump is structurally a s elf containedand readily removable or replaceable unit Il and Iis of an improved positive, rectilinear acting plunger type providing for an augmented move- Vment of the pump plunger in its action; and in operativev association therewith anl improved dep'ressible and rockable'distributor memberof an improved design'adapted to effect, in co-opera- 'tion with the wheels, a progressive and uniform 'depositing of the grease on the flange contac Ysurface of the rail.

` l'I'h'e aforementionedv and other valuable feal0 ltures and advantages `of the present improve;

ments will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters are applied to the correspond- ',ing parts in the several views. In the drawings: I Y' -Fig. 1 'is' aplan' View 'illustrating my improved lubricating device or mechanism as assembled with relation to the'rail to be lubricated.

. Fig. 2 isa view thereof in side elevation.'

Fig. 3 isa partial sectional view of the tank showing the pumping mechanism assembled therewith and Ain central, vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a detail, vertical sectional view'show- 'ing'the rail engaging actuator portion and taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal,v sectional view taken on line 5-5` of Fig.y 3. v

f Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on line 6-'-6 of Fig. 3.

f.. Fig. '7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the railtand distributor blade portion taken on line 1 1 of Fie'UZ.

Fig. 8 is a detail,v vertical sectional view through the distributor showing the adjustable In the approved embodiment of thev features of myV invention as here shown the lubricant supply tank is indicated at I and is of generally rectangular form and of a size adapting it for positioning between adjacent ties and beneath the rail. The top wall or cover plate of lthe tank is provided at one 'end with a ller opening closed by a hingedcoverZ and atthe'opposite end is formed with an opening 3 therein for the l reception of a pumping unit formed at its upper '10 portion with a supporting plate forming a cover for the opening. y i w In accordance with myinventionpthe pump-v ing mechanism for the lubricant is formedas a self contained unit adapted for ready removal BV'lli and replacement and to be actuated bythe displacement of the rail under the weight of the rolling stock or wavev movement of the rail. The pumping unit comprisesa'supportin'g and bearing memberor frame5 formed' at'its upper `.20 :end portiony with an integral supporting plate 6 forming the coverfor'the opening 3 and secured in positionby screw studs 1( The supporting member 5 is generally cylin-vv dricaland provided with bearings fora vertically movable pump plunger mechanism comprising 'a lower Aplunger 8 and upper plunger 'extension or actuator member!! in axial alignment'there?V with and interposed means for transmitting injcreased movement tothe plunger. "Asshownpo the plunger 8 is litted within a bearing-"insert member I 0 supported by the member 5. -The upper end of the plunger is formed with aheaded portion I2 beneath which is coni-ined a compres-,- sion spring I3 bearing uponvbearing member 10.3.5

and acting normally to raise the plunger 8L 'I'he lower end of the plunger acts as a piston for lforced feed of the lubricant from a cylinder or pump chamber I4 formed within a chamber member I6 formed as an insert to the lower cylindrical portion of the supporting member.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the chamber member is threaded to member 5 at I8 and'is formed'with Y 'an internal threadl I9 lto receive a -bottom closing vplug 2| having a squared wrench cavity. In an :45l

intermediate plane, the .chamber member 'is formed with an external, annular discharge groove23 connected by radial openings or bores `2li 'with'the chamber or central bore I4. In position to communicate with the discharge groove/50v 123,thev bearing member 5 is formed vwith boss 25 having vdischiarge passage 2B, vthe boreoi. which is provided with a valve seat 21 for a ball check valve 28 held by spring'29 confined beltween vthe ball and a threadedy closing plug 30.

outwardly of the valve seat 21, the passage 26 is provided with a lateral discharge port 32 to which is connected a lubricant feed pipe 33 connecting through cover opening 35 and pipe coupling 36 to a distributor member hereinafter described. At 38 is shown a packing washer tted to a chamber member recess to insure a close seal between the chamber member and the supporting member 5.

The pumping motion is transmitted to the pump plunger 8 from the adjustable actuator member 9 fitted to vertically reciprocate in bearing portions 40-4I of the supporting member in axial alignment with the plunger 8. The actuator member, as shown, is provided with an adjustable, externally extending contact member 42 of hardened steel having a rounded head portion 43 positioned. to be engaged by the under surface of the rail flange for actuation by the wave motion of the rail. The contact member is threaded to the actuator member at 44 and squared at 45 for vertical adjustment within the actuator and formed with lower extension 46 closely fitting the bore in the actuator which is longitudinally and oppositely slotted at 48 to provide a contractable region about which is fitted a bearing bracket 50 provided with a retaining set screw 52 upon which tightening secures the bracket and clamps the contact member in adjusted position by compression of the slotted portion of the actuator. Surrounding the actuator and bearing against the under surface of bracket 59 and the upper surface of bearing portion 4| of the supporting frame is a compression spring 54 imparting upward or lifting pressure upon the actuator. The bracket member 50, as shown, is formed with an extension 55 to which is threaded a vertical adjusting screw 51 bearing against the underside of a stop extension of the bearing portion 40 and provided with a lock nut 58. As the bracket 5I] is affixed to and movable with the actuator, this screw by its engagement with the supporting member acts as an adjustable stop tothe lupward movement of the actuator as is readily understood.

The lower end portion of the actuator is connected by means of pivot pin with bearing yoke member 62 which is rockable about the pivot Ell and vvertically movable in a vertical slideway formation 63 of the supporting member. The bearing yoke is provided with equi-distantly, oppositely disposed rounded bearing portions B4 positioned to bear upon and depress the pivoted arms 55 inwardly extending from pivotal bearings 66 with their inner headed end portions S1 bearing upon the pump plunger head enlargement l2. The arms or levers 65, as best shown in Fig. 5, are symmetrically formed to engage the plunger head at all times equi-distantly from the central axis thereof and at opposite sides of the axis so as to have a balanced or compensat- -ing effect in the transmission of the increment of movement from the actuator to the plunger 8. The slideway formation for the bearing yoke is open sided permitting of the employment of yokes of varied spacing of bearing portions 64 to establish the ratio of plunger movement to that ofthe actuator 9 as'may be desired. The wall 4of the supporting member is formed 'with side openings 'E0 and the bearing insert member I0 at its-lower portion'is formed with communicat- 'ing openings permitting entrance of the lubricant 'into the cylinder 4 beneath the plunger 8 when the llatter is elevated.

As will be understood, upon positioning of the tank in the ballast and with the actuator contact head 43 underlying the rail flange, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the position of the contact member is adjusted relative to the rail to determine the desired feed or delivery stroke of the pump as related to the given rail section and degree of wave motion thereof. The adjusted position of the contact member is maintained upon tightening of screw 52 and adjusting of set screw El will limit the upward movement of the actuator and correspondingly regulate the pumping action or effective pumping stroke with relation to the movement of the rail.

Accordingly, the improved pump structure, in addition to being self contained as a removable unit, is designed to have rectilinear movement of its operating parts with balanced action of its leverage arms with the important advantage that in operation no resultant lateral forces or stresses are transmitted to the container such as would in time tend to disturb the correct relative position of the tank and pump actuator to the rail and the operating adjustment as established. As will be appreciated this contributes materially to the successful operation over long periods of use i' as required.

Associated with the described pump structure I employ an impro-ved distributor device for more efficiently distributing the lubricant to the wheel flanges and in a manner whereby the Wheels in e30 their travel will transfer the lubricant toy the flangeway side of the rail head more uniformly and over an extended distance of rail length for more efficient curve lubrication. The improved distributor, or applicator, as shown in Figs. 1, 2` and 7, comprises a depressibly and rockably supported distributor head member fulcrumed upon bearing pin 8| and having a rearward bored portion B3 connected by a flexible hose 84 to the pump discharge coupling 36 as shown.

The bearing pin 8l is carried by a suitable supporting bracket 8B formed to extend beneath and .clamp to the rail base flange f of rail 1', clamping bolt and co-acting clamp being provided therefor. The distributor head is provided with the grease passage 88, as shown, terminating as an upwardly inclined passage having a delivery port positioned centrally in the upper surface of the head member and within a transverse recess 89 thereof formed in the upwardly and forwardly extended blade portion 90 of the distributor head member. The blade portion as illustrated is supported to normally assume a position closely adjacent to the flange side of the rail head with the groove 89 in the position approximately midway of the height of the rail head; the upperl or blade portion of the distributor head being formed with its outer side inclining o-r tapering upwardly with 'a curvature contour conforming substantially to the inner surface of the wheel Vflange.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the distributor head is formed with a depending lug 92 engagedat one side by aspring 93 ttedwithin a socket of the bracket 83 and at the opposite side by an l.;

adjustable stop screw 94 threaded in the bracket to adjustably limit the vupward swing of the blade portion to determine its normal raised position. This structural arrangement permits ofthe distributor blade portion depressing when engaged by an exceptionally close or worn wheel flange as a protective and safety factor."

As an additional featureand as best shown in Fig.`8,'the mounting of the distributor upon its pivot pin 8| includes an interposed rubber bush- .alignment withthe actuator, motionitrans'mitflange... This arrangementfallows of normally `positioningyof the 'distributor blade for engagement'fwithwheel'ilanges of average or normal clearance of the rail head or outward position with relation thereto. As a result thereof a very Vsubstantial improvement inthe distribution of lill fthe .grease along the rail is obtained. As will be understood, wheel anges in close .proximityor vv,engagement with the rail head will inconsequence of ,such closeness immediately redistribute rthe grease uponfthe rail resulting in excessive lapplication of the. lubricant over va small area.

Application of the grease tothe outwardly.- spaced flanges as effected by my improvedfarrangement resultsinv carrying forward of thegrease over a greatlyy extended 'area of rail and. primarily' by reaso'nofA differences of wheel diametersl and also .varied side play of the successive wheels'a.

-relatively uniform lm ofthe lubricant is progressively deposited von the rail for many of the wheel flanges will travel well into the curve before making rail contact. In additionfto the improved and progressive distribution of the grease by the wheels as described, the improved form of the vdistributor blade as shown having its forward extension normally upwardly inclined from .the delivery port directs the distribution of the grease tothe throat'of the engaging wheel ange. Having described my invention, I claim:

- l'. A rail .and ange lubricating device comprising in combination with the rail, a lubricant supply tank adaptedfor positioning in the bal- 'last below the rail, a self contained pump unit secured to and extending within. the tank, said pump unit having an actuator positioned to be engaged by ther-ail, a. pump plunger adapted to operate in vertical alignment with the actuator,

motion transmitting levers engaging the plunger in opposed, balanced relation and a yoke bearing member between the levers and actuator for transmitting increased motion from the actuator to the plunger, a distributor member and connections from the pump to the distributor.

2. A rail and kflange lubricating device comprising in combination with the rail, a lubricant supply tank, a self contained pump unit secured to .and extending within the tank, said pump unit having -an actuator positioned to be engaged by the rail, an adjustable contactor carried by the actuator, a pump plunger supported to operate in vertical alignment'with the actuator, oppositely and outwardly pivcted motion transmitting levers engaging the plunger in bal- 4stantially as described.

allyV connected tothe actuator and-havingv op-y positely spaced bearing portions engaging the levers for transmitting increased motion from the actuator to the plunger, a pump chamber member co-acting with the plunger, means normally operative to elevate the actuator and plunger, a 'distributor and connections from the pump chamber member to the distributor, sub- 3. A rail and flange lubricating device comprising in combination with the rail, a lubricant supply tank adapted for positioning in the ballastl below the rail, a self contained pump unit secured to and extending within the tank, said' pump unit having an actuator positioned to be engaged by the rail, adjustable means to limit the movement of the yactuator toward rthe rail, a pump plunger adapted to operate in vertical -supply tank, a self contained pump unit secured to and extending withinA the tank, said pump unit comprising a supporting and bearing member, an actuator member operating in vertical bearings in the supporting member, a contactor ad.- justably mounted in the actuator, a stop bracket member slidab1ytted onthe actuator, a stop screw carried in the bracket to engage the supporting member for limiting the upward move ment ofthe actuator, a retaining screw for securing the bracket onA the actuator, a spring positioned normally to` elevate vthe actuator, a pump plunger supported to voperatein vertical alignment with the actuator, opposite outwardly -pivoted motion transmitting levers engaging the plunger in balanced relation, a yoke bearing member pivotally connected to the actuator and having opposite, spaced bearing portions engaging the levers for transmitting increasedvmotion from the actuator to the plunger, a spring positioned to be operative for normally raising the plunger, a pump chamber member co-aoting with the plunger, a distributor and connections from the pump chamber to the distributor, substantially as described. A l 5. A rail and flange lubricating device comprising in combination with the rail, a lubricant supply tank, a pump unit securedto 'andvextending within the tank, said pump unit comprising a supporting and bearing member, an actuator member operating in vertical bearings in the supporting member, a contactor adjustably mounted in the actuator and having a lower clamping extension, said actuator being slotted in the region of said extension, a stop bracket member slidably tted on the actuator, a stop screw` carried in the bracket to engage the supporting member for adjustably limiting the upward movement of f the actuator, a retaining 6. A rail and ange lubricator having in comf bination with the rail and pump mechanism operated responsive to passage of rolling stock over the rail, of a distributor connected to the pump and comprising a supporting bracket and a distributor member carried by the bracket and having a forwardly extending blade portion for engagement with the wheel flanges, said distributor member being mounted upon the bracket whereby the blade portion thereof is depressible in a plane parallel 'to the rail and rockable in a lat# eral plane with relation to the railand means to 4limit the upward movement of the blade portion,

substantially as described.

'7. A rail and flange lubricator having in com bination with the rail and pump -mechanism operated responsive to passage of the rolling stock over the rail, of a distributor connected to the pump and comprising a supporting bracket secured to the rail, a distributor member, a fulcrum bearing on the bracket for said member, said distributor member having a forwardly extending blade portion provided with a lateral recess in its rearward upper surface and a discharge port communicating with said recess and having its forwardly extended portion upwardly and inwardly inclined to substantially conform to wheel flange contours and said fulcrum bearH ing including an elastic bushing whereby the blade portion will be depressible by movement on the fulcrum in a vertical plane parallel to the rail and will be laterally rockable in the plane transverse to the rail substantially as described.

8. A rail and flange lubricating device comprising in combination with the rail, a lubricant supply tank adapted for positioning in the ballast below the rail, a self contained pump unit secured to and extending within the tank, said pump unit having an actuator positioned to be engaged by the rail, means for adjusting the position of the actuator with relation to the rail, adjustable stop means adapted to limit the upward movement of the actuator, a pump plunger adapted to-operate in Vertical alignment with the actuator, motion increasing levers pivoted to engage the plunger in opposed balanced relation and a yoke bearing member interposed between the actuator and the levers, a distributor member and a connection from the pump to the distributor member.

9. A rail and ange lubricator having in combination with the rail and pump mechanism operated responsive to passage of rolling stock over the rail, of a distributor connected to the pump and comprising a supporting bracket and a distributor member pivotally carried by the bracket and having a forwardly extending blade portion for engagement with the wheel flanges, said distributor member being movable whereby the blade portion is depressible in a vertical plane parallel to the rail and rockable transversely with relation to the rail, means to limit the upward movement of the blade portion and said blade portion having its flange engaging surface positioned outwardly from the rail a distance suncient for engagement with wheel flanges relatively widely spaced from rail engagement.

10. A rail and flange lubricator having in oombination with the rail and pump mechanism operated responsive to passage of rolling stock over the rail, of a distributor connected to the pump and comprising a supporting bracket and a distributor member pivoted upon the bracket and having a forwardly extending blade portion for engagement with the wheel flanges provided with a recess in its rearward upper surface and a discharge port communicating with said recess, spring means arranged normally to elevate the blade portion, adjustable stop means on the bracket operative to limit the upward movement of the blade portion, an elastic bushing interposed between tlie pivot and the distributor to permit lateral rocking of the distributor member and said blade portion having its flange engaging surface positioned outwardly from the rail a distance sucient for engagement with wheel fianges relatively widely spaced from the rail.

EDMOND IVAN HETSCH. 

